During telephone talks with the Russian leader on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was necessary to ensure security in northern Syria, from where attacks on the republic continue.
The Turkish president's office told reporters that during the talks, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, regional issues, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "President Erdogan noted that attacks on Turkey and civilians by the terrorist organizations Kurdistan Workers' Party and People's Self-Defense Forces continue in Syria. President Erdogan said that the agreement reached in October 2019 on Turkey's border failed to create a security zone without terrorists 30 kilometers deep, he also said that it is necessary to secure these areas," the office said.
On October 9, 2019, Ankara announced Operation Peace Spring in northern Syria to create a buffer zone there to become a protective belt for the Turkish border. On October 22 of the same year, the presidents of Russia and Turkey at a meeting in Sochi adopted a memorandum on joint actions to resolve the situation in the northeast of the Arab republic. In accordance with this document, Russian military police and Syrian border guards were deployed in the areas bordering the 30-kilometer security zone created by Turkey as of noon on October 23. On October 29, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Kurds had completed the withdrawal of their armed units from there, and as of November 1, Russian and Turkish military began joint patrols east of the Euphrates River.
On May 23, 2022, Erdogan announced preparations for a new military operation in northern Syria to expand the 30-kilometer security zone created in October 2019 after Operation Peace Spring. According to the Turkish media, the operation may begin in the near future, it is planned to involve about 50,000 Turkish troops and fighters of the Syrian armed opposition, supported by Ankara.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS